X is for EXamples: Building Skills

One great way to learn is by following the example of another person.  

It can be detrimental if we do not have good examples to follow but typically it is still an effective way of learning a wide variety of things.  Sometimes we learn what to do....like, how to say "Mama".  Sometimes we learn what not to do, such as when we get in trouble for lying 'for a friend'. While we may learn from bad examples, our goal in life should be to seek out the best examples and follow them as we walk our own path.  Take the best from all the sources and forge a beautiful life for oneself.

The Bible says to follow the example of Jesus Christ as He did no wrong and was loving and just in all His ways.  He is the perfect example to follow.  I further suggest we seek to set a good example, as Jesus did, for the child(ren) in our lives.

Set the example to be your best every day, to learn something new, to make life a little brighter for someone with an act of kindness and to be true to self.  Ask the children...."Did you encourage a friend? Tell the truth? Share your lunch? Hold the door open for someone?  Smile?"  Give them concrete examples from your day and theirs to demonstrate best practices in life.

As for building literacy skills, there are many books to read that share the biographies of men and women who set both good and bad examples over the course of history.  I suggest you focus on the positives so that young people learn what others have done right that made a positive impact on this world. It is so much more inspiring!  Read their stories. Write about them.  Create a power point slide show of people's good examples, including historical people, modern people and people from their own circle of family and friends.  Create a list of good deeds or a list of positive characteristics.  Practice sentences with diverse adjectives and verbs to record examples of noteworthy deeds. Learn and share.

You are your child's first and most important teacher.  Set a good example.  Remember too that it takes a village to raise a child.  There are many different people with different skills who all come together and give the best of who they are to help the child become the best they can be.  Let those people shine brightly as they teach your child and set a good example for them.  Be thankful for their input.  Be sure to introduce the child(ren) in your life to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ too.  It will literally transform them.  Give your all and then watch in wonder as they grow and shine!




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

W is for Water: Themed Activities

  Water: As a fundamental necessity for life, water is highly esteemed. Without it, we cannot survive. But more than a basic requirement, it is also the source of many fun activities that you may enjoy with the child(ren) in your life.  Here are a few suggestions but the list is extensive! Be creative! Add rice or beads or coloured water to a water bottle and seal it to make a sensory bottle or shaker. Bob for apples in a bucket of water. Saturate a sponge and wring it out in another bucket 20 feet away. Which relay team will reach a set limit first? (ie. fill a glass to the brim) Learn to swim. Add food colouring to glasses of water and add in white carnations and wait. Watch how they change colour. Practice a thorough hand-washing routine. You can use a GloGerm kit to find out if you managed to get rid of all the germs! Learn about the water cycle. Do a science experiment to test different paper towel brands. Which one is the most absorbent when placed on a spill of 1/4 cup ...
Read more

S is for The Snowy Day: Library Notes

Image
We have had a snowy winter so perhaps this book has already been well-read and loved by the child(ren) in your life!  I wanted to be sure you know it exists because it is a classic. It covers the winter season, clothing for cold weather, and it suggests things to do on a snowy day...all in one book! Not only that, but it also helps children know that snow melts too and as the boy goes through that disappointment they think through what to do when they face that scenario too. Ezra Jack Keats wrote and illustrated this picture book in 1962 about a boy named Peter. His illustrations won him the Caldecott Medal. He layered fabrics and decorative paper and then added to that to create his illustrations.  A great follow up activity for children would be to attempt a picture using various materials such as those used in this book. The scenario is simple and familiar.  What do you do on a snowy day? Crunch in the snow. Make patterns as you walk and leave footprints behind. Make s...
Read more

Library Notes: Clap Your Hands

Image
One book that has proven the test of time is called "Clap Your Hands" by Lorinda Cauley.  The sheer number of lessons that can be covered by reading this book are incredible.  You can find the book online to purchase and/or to listen to in a recorded storytelling  Here are some accompanying thoughts. Expression: With body and words this book helps you express ideas in a fun manner alone or in a group Engagement: It is an interactive book to entice reluctant readers and engage children in the class. Understanding Emotions:  Build on the phrase, "Show me a smile. Show me a frown." Connection to the world:  Connect to people ("Tell me your name.  How old are you?") and to the animal world by making animal sounds and copying their actions ("roar like a lion, growl like a bear") Language Skills:  Study verbs (action words) such as clap, stomp, shake, wiggle, wave. How many are in the book? Vocabulary: Label body parts ("clap your hands, stomp you...
Read more